The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-04-16

wouA DO supplied by foreign impofta
tons. when We ought 70 be In position
10 supply the demand. The wool in.
terest OF this State is very large and
important, and more particularly sf
feet at present by the operations Of
the new Law than any other branch oil
business. The spring clip 10 now
ready for shipment, and it Ia necessary
that we should get 1t to Eastern mar,
kets In advarce OF the Western and
Territory woo's, which we cannot do
by water transportation. We think,
in Justice to this industry, that the
overland transportation companies
should be allowed to make such
competing rates with water routes as
will enable the wool growers to avail
themselves OF rapid transportation
across the continent without submit
ting TO the Tuinous rates now estab.
liebed, which can only result to the
advantage OF the transportation COM
panies and to the great injury of the
producer, without any benefit to the
consumer. The railroad rates now
charged are more than six times the
rate Of last year. more than four times
the present rates by sail, and nearly
double those charged by the Canadian
Pac9e. The route via Cape Horn,
while the charges are reasonable, in
wolves loss OF four months, q large
amount OF interest on the money in
vested, and would necessitate an entire
change OF business relations long estab.
lished In handling wool between here
and Eastern points. Before the pas
sage OF the interstate commerce hw
90 per cant. OF our wool went overland.
We handled also large portion OF the
wool from the adjoining States and
Territories, which would gladly come
here now but cannot owing to
the excessive railroad freight charges,
and IL we are compelled to ship via
Cape Horn we lose advantage OF the
early Eastern market on account OF
the long voyage, and you virtually
help the foreign importer at the ex-
pense OF the domestic producer. We
do not believe that 1t was the inten-
ton OF Congress In passing this law to
80 Beriously cripple the industry after
enscting from time to time suitable
tariff protection which is offset by
heavy freight charges which we are
called upon to pay under the opera
tons OF the act, and we cannot believe
our government wiehss to force the
transportation OF our wool through
foreign countries to secure lower rates
OF transportation than our railroads
are allowed to charge, when said roads
are ready and willing TO give us salts.
factory rates II only allowed to do 80.
1t 10 clearly to the interest of our PEG.
pie that the labor and capital OF
our country should get the
beneft OF the money which we
would have TO pay to foreign
corporations for freight and charges,
which would amount to q very large
sum. II we are unable to secure COM
peting rates from our own railrca ls,
our only relief is In the suspension OF
section 4, as far as the same applies to
wool and pelts, and we earnestly and
urgently petition your honorable body
for Ito immediate suspension, to enable
us TO market our woods at once, which
are rapidly accumulating."
This Is signed by the chairman and
members OF the committee.
The Commission has also received by
mail the petition OF the American Su-
gar Refining Company, Of San Fran
Disco. II sets forth that the immedi-
ate effect OF the fourth section, unless
modified, will he to "entrely destroy
the business OF distributing the pro-
ducts Of our mandatory in the Stvtes
Of the Mississippi Valley" The COM
pany has over 81, 0o0, 900 invested in
machinery and materisl devoted to
| the manufacture OF sugar, and has
large contracta for future business, in
volving many million dollars, based
upon facilities and opportunities Of
fered by the overland roads. The en-
forcement OF the law will destroy its
trade and capital. The railroads ARE
willing 30 continue old rates, and the
petitioners ask that they be permitted
TO do 30. Fourteen sugar refining es-
tshllahments OF New York and Phila-
delphla unite in letter to the Com
mission. They understand that the
Pacific railroads are about to make APP
plicstion to be relieved from the ope-
ration of section 4. Before their re-
queet is granted the refners ask an OPP.
portunity to be heard in opposition.
at ia alleged" they say, 'thst the Pa
clfic railroads. have been carving sugar
at $40 per ton from San Francisco
to the Missouri river points, while
chRrgingln Salt Like City about
$50 per ton upon the shorter distance.
The result has been that Eastern
sugar re6ners have been entirely ex.
oluded from the markets which geo.
graphically belong to them upon all
grades Of sugars msdo by the San
Francisco reflners" The Commission
gave q hearing today to the represent
alive OF the Richmond, Fredericks-
burg and Potomac railroad, wko made
an argument In favor OF the suspen-
sion OF the operation Of the fourth
section OF the act, so far as IL applies
TO that road, on account OF water COM
petition which the road has to meet
The representatives OF several roads
running eastward from Peoria, ILL.,,
we're heard In support Of petitions for
the suspention OF the operation OF the
fourth section, 80 far as 1t applied to
the transportation OF grain east ward.
They set forth the peculiar circum-
bhuCeb Ot OOmpetltlOn unuer winch
the Peorls market labored both with
Leg wste. lines and With trunk lines
from Chicago and st. Louis. The
statistics OF trade and OF the revenues
OF the roads were given in detail. A
representative OF the Cape Fear and
Yadkin Valley railroad, OF North
Carolina, made brief argument in
support OF patition to be permitted
TO meet competition at certain june
ton points.
DON CAMERON ON THR INTERSTATE LAW
Senator Cameron, of Pennsylvania,
speaking OF the interstate commerce
act, today said: al voted sgainst the
bill because l thought the running OF
railroads by act Of Congress was going
a little too far in the line OF govern.
mental interference with private BUSH
mesa aad private rights. l think Its
friends have found that out already,
and will learn great deal more before
they get through. Ihsve no idea that
the constitutional right Of Congress 10
regulate commerce between States
meant any such thing as this act pro-